AU2020228522B2

AU2020228522B2 - Refrigerator control method

Info

Publication number: AU2020228522B2
Application number: AU2020228522A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hoyoun Lee; Junghun Lee; Hyoungkeun Lim; Seokjun Yun
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2019-02-28
Filing date: 2020-02-13
Publication date: 2023-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-13
Also published as: CN113490825A; KR20200105267A; CN113490825B; EP3933331A1; AU2020228522A1; WO2020175826A1; EP3933331A4; US20220146154A1

Abstract

In a refrigerator control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, an operation corresponding to a freezer chamber load is performed when a heat load penetrates the inside of the freezer chamber, and the internal temperature of a deep-freezing chamber is differently set and controlled according to the on/off state of a deep-freezing chamber mode, and thus the input condition of the operation corresponding to the freezer chamber load can be differently set according to the on/off state of the deep-freezing chamber mode.

Description

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METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REFRIGERATOR TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for

controlling a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for

storing food at a low temperature, and includes a

refrigerating compartment for storing food in a refrigerated

state in a range of 3°C and a freezing compartment for

storing food in a frozen state in a range of -20°C.

[0003] However, when food such as meat or seafood is stored

in the frozen state in the existing freezing compartment,

moisture in cells of the meat or seafood are escaped out of

the cells in the process of freezing the food at the

temperature of -20°C, and thus, the cells are destroyed, and

taste of the food is changed during an unfreezing process.

[0004] However, if a temperature condition for the storage

compartment is set to a cryogenic state that is significantly

lower than the current temperature of the freezing

temperature. Thus, when the food quickly passes through a

freezing point temperature range while the food is changed in

the frozen state, the destruction of the cells may be

minimized, and as a result, even after the unfreezing, the

meat quality and the taste of the food may return to close to

the state before the freezing. The cryogenic temperature may

be understood to mean a temperature in a range of -45°C to

500C.

[0005] For this reason, in recent years, the demand for a

94138302.2 refrigerator equipped with a deep freezing compartment that is maintained at a temperature lower than a temperature of the freezing compartment is increasing.

[0006] In order to satisfy the demand for the deep freezing

compartment, there is a limit to the cooling using an

existing refrigerant. Thus, an attempt is made to lower the

temperature of the deep freezing compartment to a cryogenic

temperature by using a thermoelectric module (TEM).

[0007] Korean Patent Publication No. 2018-0105572 (September

28, 2018) (Prior Art 1) discloses a refrigerator having the

form of a bedside table, in which a storage compartment has a

temperature lower than the room temperature by using a

thermoelectric module.

[0008] However, in the case of the refrigerator using the

thermoelectric module disclosed in Prior Art 1, since a heat

generation surface of the thermoelectric module is configured

to be cooled by heat-exchanged with indoor air, there is a

limitation in lowering a temperature of the heat absorption

surface.

[0009] In detail, in the thermoelectric module, when supply

current increases, a temperature difference between the heat

absorption surface and the heat generation surface tends to

increase to a certain level. However, due to characteristics

of the thermoelectric element made of a semiconductor element,

when the supply current increases, the semiconductor acts as

resistance to increase in self-heat amount. Then, there is a

problem that heat absorbed from the heat absorption surface

is not transferred to the heat generation surface quickly.

[0010] In addition, if the heat generation surface of the

thermoelectric element is not sufficiently cooled, a

94138302.2 phenomenon in which the heat transferred to the heat generation surface flows back toward the heat absorption surface occurs, and a temperature of the heat absorption surface also rises.

[0011] In the case of the thermoelectric module disclosed in

Prior Art 1, since the heat generation surface is cooled by the indoor air, there is a limit that the temperature of the heat generation surface is not lower than an room temperature.

[0012] In a state in which the temperature of the heat

generation surface is substantially fixed, the supply current has to increase to lower the temperature of the heat absorption surface, and then efficiency of the thermoelectric module is deteriorated.

[0013] In addition, if the supply current increases, a temperature difference between the heat absorption surface and the heat generation surface increases, resulting in a decrease in the cooling capacity of the thermoelectric module.

[0014] Therefore, in the case of the refrigerator disclosed in Prior Art 1, it is impossible to lower the temperature of the storage compartment to a cryogenic temperature that is significantly lower than the temperature of the freezing

compartment and may be said that it is only possible to maintain the temperature of the refrigerating compartment.

[0015] In order to overcome limitations of the thermoelectric module and to lower the temperature of the

storage compartment to a temperature lower than that of the freezing compartment by using the thermoelectric module, many experiments and studies have been conducted. As a result, in order to cool the heat generation surface of the

thermoelectric module to a low temperature, an attempt has

94138302.2 been made to attach an evaporator through which a refrigerant flows to the heat generation surface.

[0016] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-097648 (August

18, 2016) (Prior Art 2) discloses directly attaching a heat

generation surface of a thermoelectric module to an

evaporator to cool the heat generation surface of the

thermoelectric module.

[0017] However, Prior Art 2 still has problems.

[0018] In Prior Art 2, an operation control method between

an evaporator for cooling the heat generation surface of the

thermoelectric module and the freezing compartment evaporator

is not described at all. In detail, since a so-called deep

freezing compartment cooled by the thermoelectric module is

accommodated in the freezing compartment, when a load is

applied to either or both of the freezing compartment and the

deep freezing compartment, the contents of the control method

of the refrigerant circulation system with respect to which

storage compartment is prioritized for the load

correspondence operation has not been disclosed at all.

[0019] In Prior Art 2, when a load is applied to the

refrigerating compartment other than the freezing compartment,

the contents of how to perform the load correspondence

operation are not described at all. This means that only the

structure using the evaporator as a cooling means for the

heat generation surface of the thermoelectric element has

been studied, and when it is actually applied to a

refrigerator, it means that research has not been done on

problems arising from load input, and the control method to

eliminate these problems.

[0020] For example, when a load is put into the freezing

94138302.2 compartment, moisture is generated inside the freezing compartment, and if the moisture is not removed quickly, the moisture is attached to an outer wall of the deep freezing compartment to cause a problem of forming frost.

[0021] Particularly, when the load is simultaneously applied

to the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment,

the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is preferentially performed, and the freezing compartment

load correspondence operation is not performed. That is,

during the refrigerating compartment load correspondence

operation, even when the load is applied to the freezing

compartment, a freezing compartment fan is not driven, and

thus, it is difficult to prevent a problem in that moisture

generated inside the freezing compartment is attached to be

grown on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment.

[0022] In addition, when the indoor space in which the

refrigerating compartment is installed is in a low

temperature region such as in winter, an operation rate of

the freezing compartment fan is low, and thus, the moisture

generated inside the freezing compartment is removed quickly,

resulting in a problem that frost is generated on the outer

wall of the deep freezing compartment.

[0023] A more serious problem is that, when the frost is

formed on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment,

there is no suitable method other than a method of physically

removing the frost by the user or stopping the operation of

the freezing compartment and waiting until the temperature of

the freezing compartment increases to a temperature that

melts the frost.

[0024] If the user removes the frost attached to the outer

94138302.2 wall of the deep freezing compartment using a tool, a problem in which the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment is damaged may occur.

[0025] If the method of defrosting the frost by stopping the operation of the freezing compartment is selected, there may

be a problem in that, if food stored in the freezing compartment does not move to another place, the food is spoiled.

[0026] Although the refrigerator having a structure in which

the deep greenhouse is accommodated in the freezing compartment has such a serious problem, in Prior Art 2, there is no mention of such a predictable problem, and there is no mention of a method for responding to the problem.

[0027] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, provide a method for controlling a refrigerator, or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

[0028] Particularly, the present disclosure may provide a control method, when a situation in which a load is put into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment for

each case in which a deep freezing compartment mode is in an on state and an off state, a temperature of each storage compartment is quickly lowered to a satisfactory temperature range.

[0029] The present disclosure may provide a method for controlling a refrigerator, which may prevent a problem of frost generated on an outer wall of a deep freezing compartment when a load is applied to the inside of the

94138302.2 freezing compartment.

[0030] In addition, since possibility that frost is

generated on an outer wall of a deep freezing compartment is

different depending on a room temperature, a control method

for preventing the occurrence of frost may be designed

differently depending on a room temperature to potentially

solve the problem of generation of frost regardless of the

room temperature.

[0031] In a method for controlling a refrigerator according

to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a heat load

is penetrated into the freezing compartment, a freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is performed, an

input condition for a freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be differently set according to

whether a deep freezing compartment mode is in an on state

because an internal temperature of a deep freezing

compartment is differently set and controlled according to a

state in which a deep freezing compartment mode is in on/off

sate.

[0032] Particularly, when the deep freezing compartment mode

is in the on state, an input condition for a first freezing

compartment load correspondence operation may be applied,

when the deep freezing compartment mode is in an off state,

an input condition for a second freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be applied, and a minimum value

of a heat load, which satisfies the input condition for the

first freezing compartment load correspondence operation may

be set to be less than a minimum value of a heat load, which

satisfies the input condition for the second freezing

compartment load correspondence operation.

94138302.2

[0033] In addition, when the input condition for the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied, whether a room temperature condition is satisfied may be determined, and the room temperature condition may be differently applied according to the on/off state of the deep

freezing compartment mode.

[0034] Here, when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on, a room temperature zone (RT zone) enabling the freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be

inputted may be defined as a first room temperature region, and when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned off, the room temperature zone (RT zone) enabling the freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be inputted may

be defined as a second room temperature region.

[0035] The first room temperature region may be set to be wider than the second room temperature region.

[0036] A minimum room temperature belonging to the first

room temperature region may be set to be lower than a minimum room temperature belonging to the second room temperature region.

[0037] When it is determined that the room temperature zone

(RT zone) enabling a current room temperature belongs is the room temperature region in which the freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be inputted, the controller may determine first whether the input condition for the

refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation conflicts.

[0038] When it is determined that the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

conflicts, the freezing compartment load correspondence

94138302.2 operation may be stopped, and the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be performed by priority.

[0039] When the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is performed in preference to the freezing compartment load correspondence operation, the

freezing compartment fan may be controlled to be driven at a low speed.

[0040] When the refrigerating compartment temperature enters

a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation may be ended, and the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be released to stop the driving of the freezing compartment fan.

[0041] When the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation is released in the state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, the process may return to the determining of whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied, and when the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released in the state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is in the off state, the process may return to the determining of whether the input

condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied.

[0042] When the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, and the refrigerating compartment temperature enters a

satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be ended, and while the low-speed driving of the freezing compartment fan is maintained, the controller redetermines whether the input

condition for the first freezing compartment load

94138302.2 correspondence operation may be satisfied.

[0043] Alternatively, when the deep freezing compartment

mode is in the on state, and the refrigerating compartment

temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, the

refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may

be ended, and the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation may be pursued.

[0044] When it is determined that the input condition for

the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is not satisfied, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be performed, and when a set

time elapses after the freezing compartment temperature

enters a satisfactory temperature region, or the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation starts, the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be

released.

[0045] In addition, when the refrigerating compartment

temperature enters an upper limit region while the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is performed, the

mode may be switched to a simultaneous operation mode in

which the refrigerating compartment and the freezing

compartment are cooled at the same time.

[0046] When at least one of the refrigerating compartment

temperature or the freezing compartment temperature enters

the satisfactory temperature region while the simultaneous

operation mode is performed, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be released.

[0047] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure

may broadly provide a method for controlling a refrigerator,

the refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment; a

94138302.2 freezing compartment that is partitioned from the refrigerating compartment; a deep freezing compartment accommodated in the freezing compartment and partitioned from the freezing compartment; a thermoelectric module configured to cool the deep freezing compartment to a temperature less than that of the freezing compartment; a deep freezing compartment temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the deep freezing compartment; a freezing compartment temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the freezing compartment; a freezing compartment fan configured to forcibly circulate air within the freezing compartment; and a controller configured to control at least driving of the freezing compartment fan, the method comprising: performing a freezing compartment load correspondence operation when a heat load is penetrated into the freezing compartment, varying an input condition for a freezing compartment load correspondence operationaccording to whether a deep freezing compartment mode is in an on state, wherein when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, an input condition for a first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is applied, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in an off state, an input condition for a second freezing compartment load correspondence operation is applied, and a minimum value of a heat load which satisfies the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is set to be less than a minimum value of a heat load which satisfies the input condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation.

[0048] When the input condition for the freezing compartment

94138302.2 load correspondence operation is satisfied, it may be determined whether a room temperature condition is satisfied, and the room temperature condition may be varied according to the on/off state of the deep freezing compartment mode.

[0049] When the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on,

a room temperature zone (RT zone) may be defined as a first

room temperature region, when the deep freezing compartment

mode is turned off, the room temperature zone (RT zone) may

be defined as a second room temperature region, the RT zone

enabling the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation to be inputted, the first room temperature region

may be set to be wider than the second room temperature

region, and a minimum room temperature of the first room

temperature region may be set to be lower than a minimum room

temperature belonging to the second room temperature region.

[0050] When only a first condition is satisfied, or both the

first condition and a second condition are satisfied, the

controller may determine first whether the input condition

for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence

operation is satisfied, wherein the first condition is the

condition that allows the first freezing compartment load

correspondence operation to be initiated, wherein the second

conditions is that when it is determined that the room

temperature zone (RT zone), to which a current room

temperature belongs, is the room temperature region in which

the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation

to be inputted.

[0051] When it is determined that the input condition for

the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is satisfied, the freezing compartment load correspondence

94138302.2 operation may be stopped, and performance of the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be prioritized.

[0052] The freezing compartment fan may be driven at a low speed together with the performance of the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation.

[0053] When the refrigerating compartment temperature enters

a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be ended, and

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be released to stop the driving of the freezing compartment fan.

[0054] When the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released when the deep freezing compartment mode

is in the on state, the controller may determine whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied.

[0055] When the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on

state, and the refrigerating compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be ended, and while the low-speed driving of the freezing compartment fan

is maintained, the controller may redetermine whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied.

[0056] When the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on

state, and the refrigerating compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be ended, and the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be

performed.

94138302.2

[0057] When it is determined that the input condition for

the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is not satisfied, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be performed, and when a set

time elapses after the freezing compartment temperature

enters a satisfactory temperature region, or the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation starts, the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be

released.

[0058] When the refrigerating compartment temperature enters

an upper limit region while the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is performed, the mode may be

switched to a simultaneous operation mode in which the

refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment may be

cooled at the same time.

[0059] When at least one of the refrigerating compartment

temperature or the freezing compartment temperature enters

the satisfactory temperature region while the simultaneous

operation mode is performed, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be released.

[0060] When only a third condition is satisfied, or both the

third condition and a forth condition are satisfied, the

controller may determine whether the input condition for the

refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied, wherein the third condition is the condition that

allows the second freezing compartment load correspondence

operation to be initiated, wherein the forth condition is

that, when it is determined that the room temperature zone

(RT zone), to which a current room temperature belongs, is

the room temperature region in which the second freezing

94138302.2 compartment load correspondence operation to be inputted, wherein, when the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be stopped, and the freezing compartment fan may be driven at a low speed.

[0061] In a state where the deep freezing compartment mode

is in the on-state, and the condition for the first freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is not satisfied,

if the freezing compartment temperature is within a

satisfactory temperature region, and the deep freezing

compartment temperature is within an unsatisfactory

temperature region, the freezing compartment fan may be

repeatedly driven and stopped with a predetermined period to

reduce an increase in temperature difference between an upper

space and a lower space of the freezing compartment.

[0062] A stopping time of the freezing compartment fan may

be set to be longer than a driving time of the freezing

compartment fan.

[0063] The method for controlling the refrigerator according

to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which has the

configuration as described above, the following effects may

be obtained.

[0064] First, according to the control method of the present

disclosure, when it is detected that a load is input into the

freezing compartment in which the deep freezing compartment

is accommodated, the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation may be immediately performed to discharge the

moisture generated in the freezing compartment to the

freezing evaporation compartment in which the freezing

94138302.2 compartment evaporator is accommodated.

[0065] As a result, the moisture transferred into the freezing compartment evaporator may be attached to the surface of the freezing compartment evaporator and condensed into water through the defrosting of the freezing compartment

evaporator and then discharged to the outside of the refrigerator.

[0066] Thus, there may be no need for the user to remove the frost formed on the outer wall of the deep freezing

compartment by using the tool or hand, and also, there may be no need to increase in temperature of the freezing compartment so as to remove the frost.

[0067] In addition, when the increase in load in the

refrigerating compartment and the increase in load of the freezing compartment occur at the same time or with a time difference, i.e., when the load correspondence operations conflict with each other, the load correspondence operations

may be prioritized and appropriately controlled to minimize the phenomenon in which the frost is generated on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment or the inner wall of the freezing compartment.

[0068] In addition, there may be the advantage in that the load correspondence operation for each room temperature is appropriately performed in consideration of the characteristics of the deep freezing compartment sensitive to

the room temperature to minimize the phenomenon in which the frost is generated on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment or the inner wall of the freezing compartment.

[0069] The term "comprising" as used in the specification

and claims means "consisting at least in part of." When

94138302.2 interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising," features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms

"comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same

manner.

[0070] The reference in this specification to any prior

publication (or information derived from it), or to any

matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an

acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that

that prior publication (or information derived from it) or

known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in

the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerant

circulation system of a refrigerator to which a control

method is applied according to an embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[0072] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating structures

of a freezing compartment and a deep freezing compartment of

the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[0073] Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken

along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

[0074] Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating a relationship of

cooling capacity with respect to an input voltage and a

Fourier effect.

[0075] Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship of

efficiency with respect to an input voltage and a Fourier

effect.

94138302.2

[0076] Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship of cooling capacity and efficiency according to a voltage.

[0077] Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a reference temperature line for controlling a refrigerator according to a change in load inside the refrigerator.

[0078] Figs. 8 and 9 are flowcharts illustrating a method for controlling a freezing compartment load correspondence operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0079] Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an output of a freezing compartment fan when a deep freezing compartment mode is in an on state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the output of the freezing compartment fan when the deep freezing compartment mode is in an off state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] Hereinafter, a method for controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be

described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0082] In the present disclosure, a storage compartment that is cooled by a first cooling device and controlled to a

predetermined temperature may be defined as a first storage compartment.

[0083] In addition, a storage compartment that is cooled by a second cooling device and is controlled to a temperature

lower than that of the first storage compartment may be

94138302.2 defined as a second storage compartment.

[0084] In addition, a storage compartment that is cooled by the third cooling device and is controlled to a temperature lower than that of the second storage compartment may be defined as a third storage compartment.

[0085] The first cooling device for cooling the first storage compartment may include at least one of a first evaporator or a first thermoelectric module including a thermoelectric element. The first evaporator may include a

refrigerating compartment evaporator to be described later.

[0086] The second cooling device for cooling the second storage compartment may include at least one of a second evaporator or a second thermoelectric module including a

thermoelectric element. The second evaporator may include a freezing compartment evaporator to be described later.

[0087] The third cooling device for cooling the third storage compartment may include at least one of a third

evaporator or a third thermoelectric module including a thermoelectric element.

[0088] In the embodiments in which the thermoelectric module is used as a cooling means in the present specification, it

may be applied by replacing the thermoelectric module with an evaporator, for example, as follows.

[0089] (1) "Cold sink of thermoelectric module", "heat absorption surface of thermoelectric module" or "heat

absorption side of thermoelectric module" may be interpreted as "evaporator or one side of the evaporator".

[0090] (2) "Heat absorption side of thermoelectric module" may be interpreted as the same meaning as "cold sink of

thermoelectric module" or "heat absorption side of

94138302.2 thermoelectric module".

[0091] (3) A controller "applies or cuts off a constant

voltage to the thermoelectric module" may be interpreted as

the same meaning as being controlled to "supply or block a

refrigerant to the evaporator", "control a switching valve to

be opened or closed", or "control a compressor to be turned

on or off".

[0092] (4) "Controlling the constant voltage applied to the

thermoelectric module to increase or decrease" by the

controller may be interpreted as the same meaning as

"controlling an amount or flow rate of the refrigerant

flowing in the evaporator to increase or decrease",

"controlling allowing an opening degree of the switching

valve to increase or decrease", or "controlling an output of

the compressor to increase or decrease".

[0093] (5) "Controlling a reverse voltage applied to the

thermoelectric module to increase or decrease" by the

controller is interpreted as the same meaning as "controlling

a voltage applied to the defrost heater adjacent to the

evaporator to increase or decrease".

[0094] In the present specification, "storage compartment

cooled by the thermoelectric module" is defined as a storage

compartment A, and "fan located adjacent to the

thermoelectric module so that air inside the storage

compartment A is heat-exchanged with the heat absorption

surface of the thermoelectric module" may be defined as

"storage compartment fan A".

[0095] Also, a storage compartment cooled by the cooling

device while constituting the refrigerator together with the

storage compartment A may be defined as "storage compartment

94138302.2

B".

[0096] In addition, a "cooling device chamber" may be

defined as a space in which the cooling device is disposed,

in a structure in which the fan for blowing cool air

generated by the cooling device is added, the cooling device

chamber may be defined as including a space in which the fan

is accommodated, and in a structure in which a passage for

guiding the cold air blown by the fan to the storage

compartment or a passage through which defrost water is

discharged is added may be defined as including the passages.

[0097] In addition, a defrost heater disposed at one side of

the cold sink to remove frost or ice generated on or around

the cold sink may be defined as a cold sink defrost heater.

[0098] In addition, a defrost heater disposed at one side of

the heat sink to remove frost or ice generated on or around

the heat sink may be defined as a heat sink defrost heater.

[0099] In addition, a defrost heater disposed at one side of

the cooling device to remove frost or ice generated on or

around the cooling device may be defined as a cooling device

defrost heater.

[00100] In addition, a defrost heater disposed at one side of

a wall surface forming the cooling device chamber to remove

frost or ice generated on or around the wall surface forming

the cooling device chamber may be defined as a cooling device

chamber defrost heater.

[00101] In addition, a heater disposed at one side of the

cold sink may be defined as a cold sink drain heater in order

to minimize refreezing or re-implantation in the process of

discharging defrost water or water vapor melted in or around

the cold sink.

94138302.2

[00102] In addition, a heater disposed at one side of the

heat sink may be defined as a heat sink drain heater in order

to minimize refreezing or re-implantation in the process of

discharging defrost water or water vapor melted in or around

the heat sink.

[00103] In addition, a heater disposed at one side of the

cooling device may be defined as a cooling device drain

heater in order to minimize refreezing or re-implantation in

the process of discharging defrost water or water vapor

melted in or around the cooling device.

[00104] In addition, in the process of discharging the

defrost water or water vapor melted from or around the wall

forming the cooling device chamber, a heater disposed at one

side of the wall forming the cooling device chamber may be

defined as a cooling device chamber drain heater in order to

minimize refreezing or re-implantation.

[00105] Also, a "cold sink heater" to be described below may

be defined as a heater that performs at least one of a

function of the cold sink defrost heater or a function of the

cold sink drain heater.

[00106] In addition, the "heat sink heater" may be defined as

a heater that performs at least one of a function of the heat

sink defrost heater or a function of the heat sink drain

heater.

[00107] In addition, the "cooling device heater" may be

defined as a heater that performs at least one of a function

of the cooling device defrost heater or a function of the

cooling device drain heater.

[00108] In addition, a "back heater" to be described below

may be defined as a heater that performs at least one of a

94138302.2 function of the heat sink heater or a function of the cooling device chamber defrost heater. That is, the back heater may be defined as a heater that performs at least one function among the functions of the heat sink defrost heater, the heater sink drain heater, and the cooling device chamber defrost heater.

[00109] In the present disclosure, as an example, the first

storage compartment may include a refrigerating compartment

that is capable of being controlled to a zero temperature by

the first cooling device.

[00110] In addition, the second storage compartment may

include a freezing compartment that is capable of being

controlled to a temperature below zero by the second cooling

device.

[00111] In addition, the third storage compartment may

include a deep freezing compartment that is capable of being

maintained at a cryogenic temperature or an ultrafrezing

temperature by the third cooling device.

[00112] In the present disclosure, a case in which all of the

third to third storage compartments are controlled to a

temperature below zero, a case in which all of the first to

third storage compartments are controlled to a zero

temperature, and a case in which the first and second storage

compartments are controlled to the zero temperature, and the

third storage compartment is controlled to the temperature

below zero are not excluded.

[00113] In the present disclosure, an "operation" of the

refrigerator may be defined as including four processes such

as a process (I) of determining whether an operation start

condition or an operation input condition is satisfied, a

94138302.2 process (II) of performing a predetermined operation when the operation input condition is satisfied, a process (III) of determining whether an operation completion condition is satisfied, and a process (IV) of terminating the operation when the operation completion condition is satisfied.

[00114] In the present disclosure, an "operation" for cooling

the storage compartment of the refrigerator may be defined by

being divided into a general operation and a special

operation.

[00115] The general operation may be referred to as a cooling

operation performed when an internal temperature of the

refrigerator naturally increases in a state in which the

storage compartment door is not opened, or a load input

condition due to food storage does not occur.

[00116] In detail, when the temperature of the storage

compartment enters an unsatisfactory temperature region

(described below in detail with reference to the drawings),

and the operation input condition is satisfied, the

controller controls the cold air to be supplied from the

cooling device of the storage compartment so as to cool the

storage compartment.

[00117] Specifically, the general operation may include a

refrigerating compartment cooling operation, a freezing

compartment cooling operation, a deep freezing compartment

cooling operation, and the like.

[00118] On the other hand, the special operation may mean an

operation other than the operations defined as the general

operation.

[00119] In detail, the special operation may include a

defrost operation controlled to supply heat to the cooling

94138302.2 device so as to melt the frost or ice deposited on the cooling device after a defrost period of the storage compartment elapses.

[00120] In addition, the special operation may further

include a load correspondence operation for controlling the

cold air to be supplied from the cooling device to the

storage compartment so as to remove a heat load penetrated

into the storage compartment when a set time elapses from a

time when a door of the storage compartment is opened and

closed, or when a temperature of the storage compartment

rises to a set temperature before the set time elapses.

[00121] In detail, the load correspondence operation includes

a door load correspondence operation performed to remove a

load penetrated into the storage compartment after opening

and closing of the storage compartment door, and an initial

cold start operation performed to remove a load

correspondence operation performed to remove a load inside

the storage compartment when power is first applied after

installing the refrigerator.

[00122] For example, the defrost operation may include at

least one of a refrigerating compartment defrost operation, a

freezing compartment defrost operation, and a deep freezing

compartment defrost operation.

[00123] Also, the door load correspondence operation may

include at least one of a refrigerating compartment door load

correspondence operation, a freezing compartment door load

correspondence operation, and a deep freezing compartment

load correspondence operation.

[00124] Here, the deep freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be interpreted as an operation

94138302.2 for removing the deep freezing compartment load, which is performed when at least one condition for the deep freezing compartment door load correspondence input condition performed when the load increases due to the opening of the door of the deep freezing compartment, the initial cold start operation input condition preformed to remove the load within the deep freezing compartment when the deep freezing compartment is switched from an on state to an off state, or the operation input condition after the defrosting that initially starts after the deep freezing compartment defrost operation is completed.

[00125] In detail, determining whether the operation input

condition corresponding to the load of the deep freezing

compartment door is satisfied may include determining whether

at least one of a condition in which a predetermined amount

of time elapses from at time point at which at least one of

the freezing compartment door and the deep freezing

compartment door is closed after being opened, or a condition

in which a temperature of the deep freezing compartment rises

to a set temperature within a predetermined time is satisfied.

[00126] In addition, determining whether the initial cold

start operation input condition for the deep freezing

compartment is satisfied may include determining whether the

refrigerator is powered on, and the deep freezing compartment

mode is switched from the off state to the on state.

[00127] In addition, determining whether the operation input

condition is satisfied after the deep freezing compartment

defrost may include determining at least one of stopping of

the reverse voltage applied to the thermoelectric module for

cold sink heater off, back heater off, cold sink defrost,

94138302.2 stopping of the constant voltage applied to the thermoelectric module for the heat sink defrost after the reverse voltage is applied for the cold sink defrost, an increase of a temperature of a housing accommodating the heat sink to a set temperature, or terminating of the freezing compartment defrost operation.

[00128] Thus, the operation of the storage compartment

including at least one of the refrigerating compartment, the

freezing compartment, or the deep freezing compartment may be

summarized as including the general storage compartment

operation and the storage compartment special operation.

[00129] When two operations conflict with each other during

the operation of the storage compartment described above, the

controller may control one operation (operation A) to be

performed preferentially and the other operation (operation

B) to be paused.

[00130] In the present disclosure, the conflict of the

operations may include i) a case in which an input condition

for the operation A and an input condition for the operation

B are satisfied at the same time to conflict with each other,

a case in which the input condition for the operation B is

satisfied while the input condition for the operation A is

satisfied to perform the operation A to conflict with each

other, and a case in which the input condition for operation

A is satisfied while the input condition for the operation B

is satisfied to perform the operation B to conflict with each

other.

[00131] When the two operations conflict with each other, the

controller determines the performance priority of the

conflicting operations to perform a so-called "conflict

94138302.2 control algorithm" to be executed in order to control the performance of the correspondence operation.

[00132] A case in which the operation A is performed first,

and the operation B is stopped will be described as an

example.

[00133] In detail, in the present disclosure, the paused

operation B may be controlled to follow at least one of the

three cases of the following example after the completion of

the operation A.

[00134] a. Termination of operation B

[00135] When the operation A is completed, the performance of

the operation B may be released to terminate the conflict

control algorithm and return to the previous operation

process.

[00136] Here, the "release" does not determine whether the

paused operation B is not performed any more, and whether the

input condition for the operation B is satisfied. That is,

it is seen that the determination information on the input

condition for the operation B is initialized.

[00137] b. Redetermination of input condition of operation B

[00138] When the firstly performed operation A is completed,

the controller may return to the process of determining again

whether the input condition for the paused operation B is

satisfied, and determine whether the operation B restarts.

[00139] For example, if the operation B is an operation in

which the fan is driven for 10 minutes, and the operation is

stopped when 3 minutes elapses after the start of the

operation due to the conflict with the operation A, it is

determined again whether the input condition for the

operation B is satisfied at a time point at which the

94138302.2 operation A is completed, and if it is determined to be satisfied, the fan is driven again for 10 minutes.

[00140] c. Continuation of operation B

[00141] When the firstly performed operation A is completed,

the controller may allow the paused operation B to be

continued. Here, "continuation" means not to start over from

the beginning, but to continue the paused operation.

[00142] For example, if the operation B is an operation in

which the fan is driven for 10 minutes, and the operation is

paused after 3 minutes elapses after the start of the

operation due to the conflict with operation A, the

compressor is further driven for the remaining time of 7

minutes immediately after the operation A is completed.

[00143] In the present disclosure, the priority of the

operations may be determined as follows.

[00144] First, when the general operation and the special

operation conflict with each other, it is possible to control

the special operation to be performed preferentially.

[00145] Second, when the conflict between the general

operations occurs, the priority of the operations may be

determined as follows.

[00146] I. When the refrigerating compartment cooling

operation and the freezing compartment cooling operation

conflict with each other, the refrigerating compartment

cooling operation may be performed preferentially.

[00147] II. When the refrigerating compartment (or

freezing compartment) cooling operation and the deep freezing

compartment cooling operation conflict with each other, the

refrigerating compartment (or freezing compartment) cooling

operation may be performed preferentially. Here, in order to

94138302.2 prevent the deep freezing compartment temperature from rising excessively, cooling capacity having a level lower than that of maximum cooling capacity of the deep freezing compartment cooling device may be supplied from the deep freezing compartment cooling device to the deep freezing compartment.

[00148] The cooling capacity may mean at least one of cooling capacity of the cooling device itself and an airflow amount of the cooling fan disposed adjacent to the cooling device. For example, when the cooling device of the deep freezing

compartment is the thermoelectric module, the controller may perform the refrigerating compartment (or freezing compartment) cooling operation with priority when the refrigerating compartment (or freezing compartment) cooling

operation and the deep freezing compartment cooling operation conflict with each other. Here, a voltage lower than a maximum voltage that is capable of being applied to the thermoelectric module may be input into the thermoelectric

module.

[00149] Third, when the conflict between special operations occurs, the priority of the operations may be determined as follows.

[00150] I. When a refrigerating compartment door load correspondence operation conflicts with a freezing compartment door load correspondence operation, the controller may control the refrigerating compartment door

load correspondence operation to be performed with priority.

[00151] II. When the freezing compartment door load correspondence operation conflicts with the deep freezing compartment door load correspondence operation, the

controller may control the deep freezing compartment door

94138302.2 load correspondence operation to be performed with priority.

[00152] III. If the refrigerating compartment operation and the deep freezing compartment door load correspondence operation conflict with each other, the controller may control the refrigerating compartment operation and the deep

freezing compartment door load correspondence operation so as to be performed at the same time. Then, when the temperature of the refrigerating compartment reaches a specific temperature a, the controller may control the deep freezing

compartment door load correspondence operation so as to be performed exclusively. When the refrigerating compartment temperature rises again to reach a specific temperature b (a < b) while the deep freezing compartment door load

correspondence operation is performed independently, the controller may control the refrigerating compartment operation and the deep freezing compartment door load correspondence operation so as to be performed at the same

time. Thereafter, an operation switching process between the simultaneous operation of the deep freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment and the single operation of the deep freezing compartment may be controlled to be repeatedly

performed according to the temperature of the refrigerating compartment.

[00153] As an extended modified example, when the operation input condition for the deep freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is satisfied, the controller may control the operation to be performed in the same manner as when the refrigerating compartment operation and the deep freezing compartment door load correspondence operation

conflict with each other.

94138302.2

[00154] Hereinafter, as an example, the description is

limited to the case in which the first storage compartment is

the refrigerating compartment, the second storage compartment

is the freezing compartment, and the third storage

compartment is the deep freezing compartment.

[00155] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerant

circulation system of a refrigerator according to an

embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00156] Referring to Fig. 1, a refrigerant circulation system

according to an embodiment of the present disclosure

includes a compressor 11 that compresses a refrigerant into a

high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, a

condenser 12 that condenses the refrigerant discharged from

the compressor 11 into a high-temperature and high-pressure

liquid refrigerant, an expansion valve that expands the

refrigerant discharged from the condenser 12 into a low

temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant, and an

evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant passing through

the expansion valve into a low-temperature and low-pressure

gaseous refrigerant. The refrigerant discharged from the

evaporator flows into the compressor 11. The above

components are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe

to constitute a closed circuit.

[00157] In detail, the expansion valve may include a

refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and a freezing

compartment expansion valve 15. The refrigerant pipe is

divided into two branches at an outlet side of the condenser

12, and the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and

the freezing compartment expansion valve 15 are respectively

connected to the refrigerant pipe that is divided into the

94138302.2 two branches. That is, the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and the freezing compartment expansion valve 15 are connected in parallel at the outlet of the condenser 12.

[00158] A switching valve 13 is mounted at a point at which

the refrigerant pipe is divided into the two branches at the outlet side of the condenser 12. The refrigerant passing through the condenser 12 may flow through only one of the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and the freezing

compartment expansion valve 15 by an operation of adjusting an opening degree of the switching valve 13 or may flow to be divided into both sides.

[00159] The switching valve 13 may be a three-way valve, and

a flow direction of the refrigerant is determined according to an operation mode. Here, one switching valve such as the three-way valve may be mounted at an outlet of the condenser 12 to control the flow direction of the refrigerant, or

alternatively, the switching valves are mounted at inlet sides of a refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and a freezing compartment expansion valve 15, respectively.

[00160] As a first example of an evaporator arrangement

manner, the evaporator may include a refrigerating compartment evaporator 16 connected to an outlet side of the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14 and a heat sink 24 and a freezing compartment evaporator 17, which are

connected in series to an outlet side of the freezing compartment expansion valve 15. The heat sink 24 and the freezing compartment evaporator 17 are connected in series, and the refrigerant passing through the freezing compartment

expansion valve passes through the heat sink 24 and then

94138302.2 flows into the freezing compartment evaporator 17.

[00161] As a second example, the heat sink 24 may be disposed

at an outlet side of the freezing compartment evaporator 17

so that the refrigerant passing through the freezing

compartment evaporator 17 flows into the heat sink 24.

[00162] As a third example, a structure in which the heat

sink 24 and the freezing compartment evaporator 17 are

connected in parallel at an outlet end of the freezing

compartment expansion valve 15 is not excluded.

[00163] Although the heat sink 24 is the evaporator, it is

provided for the purpose of cooling a heat generation surface

of the thermoelectric module to be described later, not for

the purpose of heat-exchange with the cold air of the deep

freezing compartment.

[00164] In each of the three examples described above with

respect to the arrangement manner of the evaporator, a

complex system of a first refrigerant circulation system, in

which the switching valve 13, the refrigerating compartment

expansion valve 14, and the refrigerating compartment

evaporator 16 are removed, and a second refrigerant

circulation system constituted by the refrigerating

compartment cooling evaporator, the refrigerating compartment

cooling expansion valve, the refrigerating compartment

cooling condenser, and a refrigerating compartment cooling

compressor is also possible. Here, the condenser

constituting the first refrigerant circulation system and the

condenser constituting the second refrigerant circulation

system may be independently provided, and a complex condenser

which is provided as a single body and in which the

refrigerant is not mixed may be provided.

94138302.2

[00165] The refrigerant circulation system of the

refrigerator having the two storage compartments including

the deep freezing compartment may be configured only with the

first refrigerant circulation system.

[00166] Hereinafter, as an example, the description will be

limited to a structure in which the heat sink and the

freezing compartment evaporator 17 are connected in series.

[00167] A condensing fan 121 is mounted adjacent to the

condenser 12, a refrigerating compartment fan 161 is mounted

adjacent to the refrigerating compartment evaporator 16, and

a freezing compartment fan 171 is mounted adjacent to the

freezing compartment evaporator 17.

[00168] A refrigerating compartment maintained at a

refrigerating temperature by cold air generated by the

refrigerating compartment evaporator 16, a freezing

compartment maintained at a freezing temperature by cold air

generated by the freezing compartment evaporator 16, and a

deep freezing compartment 202 maintained at a cryogenic or

ultrafrezing temperature by a thermoelectric module to be

described later are formed inside the refrigerator provided

with the refrigerant circulation system according to the

embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigerating

compartment and the freezing compartment may be disposed

adjacent to each other in a vertical direction or horizontal

direction and are partitioned from each other by a partition

wall. The deep freezing compartment may be provided at one

side of the inside of the freezing compartment, but the

present disclosure includes the deep freezing compartment

provided at one side of the outside of the freezing

compartment. In order to block the heat exchange between the

94138302.2 cold air of the deep freezing compartment and the cold air of the freezing compartment, the deep freezing compartment 202 may be partitioned from the freezing compartment by a deep freezing case 201 having the high thermal insulation performance.

[00169] In addition, the thermoelectric module includes a thermoelectric module 21 having one side through which heat is absorbed and the other side through which heat is released when power is supplied, a cold sink 22 mounted on the heat

absorption surface of the thermoelectric module 21, a heat sink mounted on the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module 21, and an insulator 23 that blocks heat exchange between the cold sink 22 and the heat sink.

[00170] Here, the heat sink 24 is an evaporator that is in contact with the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module 21. That is, the heat transferred to the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module 21

is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing inside the heat sink 24. The refrigerant flowing along the inside of the heat sink 24 and absorbing heat from the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module 21 is introduced into

the freezing compartment evaporator 17.

[00171] In addition, a cooling fan may be provided in front of the cold sink 22, and the cooling fan may be defined as the deep freezing compartment fan 25 because the fan is

disposed behind the inside of the deep freezing compartment.

[00172] The cold sink 22 is disposed behind the inside of the deep freezing compartment 202 and configured to be exposed to the cold air of the deep freezing compartment 202. Thus,

when the deep freezing compartment fan 25 is driven to

94138302.2 forcibly circulate cold air in the deep freezing compartment

202, the cold sink 22 absorbs heat through heat-exchange with

the cold air in the deep freezing compartment and then is

transferred to the heat absorption surface of the

thermoelectric module 21. The heat transferred to the heat

absorption surface is transferred to the heat generation

surface of the thermoelectric module 21.

[00173] The heat sink 24 functions to absorb the heat

absorbed from the heat absorption surface of the

thermoelectric module 21 and transferred to the heat

generation surface of the thermoelectric module 21 again to

release the heat to the outside of the thermoelectric module

20.

[00174] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating structures

of the freezing compartment and the deep freezing compartment

of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present

disclosure, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view

taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

[00175] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerator

according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes

an inner case 101 defining the freezing compartment 102 and a

deep freezing unit 200 mounted at one side of the inside of

the freezing compartment 102.

[00176] In detail, the inside of the refrigerating

compartment is maintained to a temperature of about 30C, and

the inside of the freezing compartment 102 is maintained to a

temperature of about -18°C, whereas a temperature inside the

deep freezing unit 200, i.e., an internal temperature of the

deep freezing compartment 202 has to be maintained to about

500C. Therefore, in order to maintain the internal

94138302.2 temperature of the deep freezing compartment 202 at a cryogenic temperature of -50°C, an additional freezing means such as the thermoelectric module 20 is required in addition to the freezing compartment evaporator.

[00177] In more detail, the deep freezing unit 200 includes a

deep freezing case 201 that forms a deep freezing compartment 202 therein, a deep freezing compartment drawer 203 slidably inserted into the deep freezing case 201, and a thermoelectric module 20 mounted on a rear surface of the

deep freezing case 201.

[00178] Instead of applying the deep freezing compartment drawer 203, a structure in which a deep freezing compartment door is connected to one side of the front side of the deep freezing case 201, and the entire inside of the deep freezing compartment 201 is configured as a food storage space is also possible.

[00179] In addition, the rear surface of the inner case 101

is stepped backward to form a freezing evaporation compartment 104 in which the freezing compartment evaporator 17 is accommodated. In addition, an inner space of the inner case 101 is divided into the freezing evaporation compartment

104 and the freezing compartment 102 by the partition wall 103. The thermoelectric module 20 is fixedly mounted on a front surface of the partition wall 103, and a portion of the thermoelectric module 20 passes through the deep freezing

case 201 and is accommodated in the deep freezing compartment 202.

[00180] In detail, the heat sink 24 constituting the thermoelectric module 20 may be an evaporator connected to

the freezing compartment expansion valve 15 as described

94138302.2 above. A space in which the heat sink 24 is accommodated may be formed in the partition wall 103.

[00181] Since the two-phase refrigerant cooled to a temperature of about -18°C to -20°C while passing through the freezing compartment expansion valve 15 flows inside the heat

sink 24, a surface temperature of the heat sink 24 may be maintained to a temperature of -180C to -20°C. Here, it is noted that a temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passing through the freezing compartment expansion valve 15

may vary depending on the freezing compartment temperature condition.

[00182] When a rear surface of the thermoelectric module 21 is in contact with a front surface of the heat sink 24, and

power is applied to the thermoelectric module 21, the rear surface of the thermoelectric module 21 becomes a heat generation surface.

[00183] When the cold sink 22 is in contact with a front

surface of the thermoelectric module, and power is applied to the thermoelectric module 21, the front surface of the thermoelectric module 21 becomes a heat absorption surface.

[00184] The cold sink 22 may include a heat conduction plate

made of an aluminum material and a plurality of heat exchange fins extending from a front surface of the heat conduction plate. Here, the plurality of heat exchange fins extend vertically and are disposed to be spaced apart from each

other in a horizontal direction.

[00185] Here, when a housing surrounding or accommodating at least a portion of a heat conductor constituted by the heat conduction plate and the heat exchange fin is provided, the

cold sink 22 has to be interpreted as a heat transfer member

94138302.2 including the housing as well as the heat conductor. This is equally applied to the heat sink 22, and the heat sink 22 has be interpreted not only as the heat conductor constituted by the heat conduction plate and the heat exchange fin, but also as the heat transfer member including the housing when a housing is provided.

[00186] The deep freezing compartment fan 25 is disposed in

front of the cold sink 22 to forcibly circulate air inside

the deep freezing compartment 202.

[00187] Hereinafter, efficiency and cooling capacity of the

thermoelectric module will be described.

[00188] The efficiency of the thermoelectric module 20 may be

defined as a coefficient of performance (COP), and an

efficiency equation is as follows.

COP=

[00189]

[00190] Qc: Cooling Capacity (ability to absorb heat)

[00191] Pe: Input Power (power supplied to thermoelectric

element)

[00192] =

[00193] In addition, the cooling capacity of the

thermoelectric module 20 may be defined as follows.

1 pL 2 kA Qa___- -- (Th-Te)

[00194] 2 A L

[00195] <Semiconductor material property coefficient>

[00196] a : Seebeck Coefficient [V/K]

[00197] p : Specific Resistance [Qm-1]

[00198] k: Thermal conductivity [Qm-1]

[00199] <Semiconductor structure characteristics>

[00200] L : Thickness of thermoelectric module Distance

94138302.2 between heat absorption surface and heat generation surface

[00201] A : Surface of thermoelectric module

[00202] <System use condition>

[00203] i : Current

[00204] V : Voltage

[00205] Th : Temperature of heat generation surface of

thermoelectric module

[00206] Tc : Temperature of heat absorption surface of

thermoelectric module

[00207]

[00208] In the above cooling capacity equation, a first item

at the right may be defined as a Peltier Effect and may be

defined as an amount of heat transferred between both ends of

the heat absorption surface and the heat generation surface

by a voltage difference. The Peltier effect increases in

proportional to supply current as a function of current.

[00209] In the formula V = iR, since a semiconductor

constituting the thermoelectric module acts as resistance,

and the resistance may be regarded as a constant, it may be

said that a voltage and current have a proportional

relationship. That is, when the voltage applied to the

thermoelectric module 21 increases, the current also

increases. Accordingly, the Peltier effect may be seen as a

current function or as a voltage function.

[00210] The cooling capacity may also be seen as a current

function or a voltage function. The Peltier effect acts as a

positive effect of increasing in cooling capacity. That is,

as the supply voltage increases, the Peltier effect increases

to increase in cooling capacity.

[00211] The second item in the cooling capacity equation is

94138302.2 defined as a Joule Effect.

[00212] The Joule effect means an effect in which heat is

generated when current is applied to a resistor. In other

words, since heat is generated when power is supplied to the

thermoelectric module, this acts as a negative effect of

reducing the cooling capacity. Therefore, when the voltage

supplied to the thermoelectric module increases, the Joule

effect increases, resulting in lowering of the cooling

capacity of the thermoelectric module.

[00213] The third item in the cooling capacity equation is

defined as a Fourier effect.

[00214] The Fourier effect means an effect in which heat is

transferred by heat conduction when a temperature difference

occurs on both surfaces of the thermoelectric module.

[00215] In detail, the thermoelectric module includes a heat

absorption surface and a heat generation surface, each of

which is provided as a ceramic substrate, and a semiconductor

disposed between the heat absorption surface and the heat

generation surface. When a voltage is applied to the

thermoelectric module, a temperature difference is generated

between the heat absorption surface and the heat generation

surface. The heat absorbed through the heat absorption

surface passes through the semiconductor and is transferred

to the heat generation surface. However, when the

temperature difference between the heat absorption surface

and the heat absorption surface occurs, a phenomenon in which

heat flows backward from the heat generation surface to the

heat absorption surface by heat conduction occurs, which is

referred to as the Fourier effect.

[00216] Like the Joule effect, the Fourier effect acts as a

94138302.2 negative effect of lowering the cooling capacity. In other words, when the supply current increases, the temperature difference (Th-Tc) between the heat generation surface and the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric module, i.e., a value AT, increases, resulting in lowering of the cooling capacity.

[00217] Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating a relationship of

cooling capacity with respect to the input voltage and the

Fourier effect.

[00218] Referring to FIG. 4, the Fourier effect may be

defined as a function of the temperature difference between

the heat absorption surface and the heat generation surface,

that is, a value AT.

[00219] In detail, when standards of the thermoelectric

module are determined, values k, A, and L in the item of the

Fourier effect in the above cooling capacity equation become

constant values, and thus, the Fourier effect may be seen as

a function with the value AT as a variable.

[00220] Therefore, as the value AT increases, the value of

the Fourier effect increases, but the Fourier effect acts as

a negative effect on the cooling capacity, and thus the

cooling capacity decreases.

[00221] As shown in the graph of Fig. 4, it is seen that the

greater the value AT under the constant voltage condition,

the less the cooling capacity.

[00222] In addition, when the value AT is fixed, for example,

when AT is 300C, a change in cooling capacity according to a

change of the voltage is observed. As the voltage value

increases, the cooling capacity increases and has a maximum

value at a certain point and then decreases again.

94138302.2

[00223] Here, since the voltage and current have a

proportional relationship, it should be noted that it is no

matter to view the current described in the cooling capacity

equation as the voltage and be interpreted in the same manner.

[00224] In detail, the cooling capacity increases as the

supply voltage (or current) increases, which may be explained

by the above cooling capacity equation. First, since the

value AT is fixed, the value AT becomes a constant. Since

the AT value for each standard of the thermoelectric module

is determined, an appropriate standard of the thermoelectric

module may be set according to the required value AT.

[00225] Since the value AT is fixed, the Fourier effect may

be seen as a constant, and the cooling capacity may be

simplified into a function of the Peltier effect, which is

seen as a first-order function of the voltage (or current),

and the Joule effect, which is seen as a second-order

function of the voltage (or current).

[00226] As the voltage value gradually increases, an amount

of increase in Peltier effect, which is the first-order

function of the voltage, is larger than that of increase in

Joule effect, which is the second-order function, of voltage,

and consequently, the cooling capacity increases. In other

words, until the cooling capacity is maximized, the function

of the Joule effect is close to a constant, so that the

cooling capacity approaches the first-order function of the

voltage.

[00227] As the voltage further increases, it is seen that a

reversal phenomenon, in which a self-heat generation amount

due to the Joule effect is greater than a transfer heat

amount due to the Peltier effect, occurs, and as a result,

94138302.2 the cooling capacity decreases again. This may be more clearly understood from the functional relationship between the Peltier effect, which is the first-order function of the voltage (or current), and the Joule effect, which is the second-order function of the voltage (or current). That is, when the cooling capacity decreases, the cooling capacity is close to the second-order function of the voltage.

[00228] In the graph of Fig. 4, it is confirmed that the

cooling capacity is maximum when the supply voltage is in a

range of about 30 V to about 40 V, more specifically, about

V. Therefore, if only the cooling capacity is considered,

it is said that it is preferable to generate a voltage

difference within a range of 30 V to 40V in the

thermoelectric module.

[00229] Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship of

efficiency with respect to the input voltage and the Fourier

effect.

[00230] Referring to Fig. 5, it is seen that the higher the

value AT, the lower the efficiency at the same voltage. This

will be noted as a natural result because the efficiency is

proportional to the cooling capacity.

[00231] In addition, when the value AT is fixed, for example,

when the value AT is limited to 30 0 C and the change in

efficiency according to the change in voltage is observed,

the efficiency increases as the supply voltage increases, and

the efficiency decreases after a certain time point elapses.

This is said to be similar to the graph of the cooling

capacity according to the change of the voltage.

[00232] Here, the efficiency (COP) is a function of input

power as well as cooling capacity, and the input Pe becomes a

94138302.2 function of V2 when the resistance of the thermoelectric module 21 is considered as the constant. If the cooling capacity is divided by V 2 , the efficiency may be expressed as

Peltier effect - Peltier effect/V 2 . Therefore, it is seen

that the graph of the efficiency has a shape as illustrated

in Fig. 5.

[00233] It is seen from the graph of Fig. 5, in which a point

at which the efficiency is maximum appears in a region in

which the voltage difference (or supply voltage) applied to

the thermoelectric module is less than about 20 V. Therefore,

when the required value AT is determined, it is good to apply

an appropriate voltage according to the value to maximize the

efficiency. That is, when a temperature of the heat sink and

a set temperature of the deep freezing compartment 202 are

determined, the value AT is determined, and accordingly, an

optimal difference of the voltage applied to the

thermoelectric module may be determined.

[00234] Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating a relationship of the

cooling capacity and the efficiency according to a voltage.

[00235] Referring to Fig. 6, as described above, as the

voltage difference increases, both the cooling capacity and

efficiency increase and then decrease.

[00236] In detail, it is seen that the voltage value at which

the cooling capacity is maximized and the voltage value at

which the efficiency is maximized are different from each

other. This is seen that the voltage is the first-order

function, and the efficiency is the second-order function

until the cooling capacity is maximized.

[00237] As illustrated in Fig. 6, as an example, in the case

of the thermoelectric module having AT of 30°C, it is

94138302.2 confirmed that the thermoelectric module has the highest efficiency within a range of approximately 12 V to 17 V of the voltage applied to the thermoelectric module. Within the above voltage range, the cooling capacity continues to increase. Therefore, it is seen that a voltage difference of at least 12 V is required in consideration of the cooling capacity, and the efficiency is maximum when the voltage difference is 14 V.

[00238] Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a reference temperature

line for controlling the refrigerator according to a change

in load inside the refrigerator.

[00239] Hereinafter, a set temperature of each storage

compartment will be described by being defined as a notch

temperature. The reference temperature line may be expressed

as a critical temperature line.

[00240] A lower reference temperature line in the graph is a

reference temperature line by which a satisfactory

temperature region and a unsatisfactory temperature region

are divided. Thus, a region A below the lower reference

temperature line may be defined as a satisfactory section or

a satisfactory region, and a region B above the lower

reference temperature line may be defined as a dissatisfied

section or a dissatisfied region.

[00241] In addition, an upper reference temperature line is a

reference temperature line by which an unsatisfactory

temperature region and an upper limit temperature region are

divided. Thus, a region C above the upper reference

temperature line may be defined as an upper limit region or

an upper limit section and may be seen as a special operation

region.

94138302.2

[00242] When defining the satisfactory/unsatisfactory/upper

limit temperature regions for controlling the refrigerator,

the lower reference temperature line may be defined as either

a case of being included in the satisfactory temperature

region or a case of being included in the unsatisfactory

temperature region. In addition, the upper reference

temperature line may be defined as one of a case of being

included in the unsatisfactory temperature region and a case

of being included in the upper limit temperature region.

[00243] When the internal temperature of the refrigerator is

within the satisfactory region A, the compressor is not

driven, and when the internal temperature of the refrigerator

is in the unsatisfactory region B, the compressor is driven

so that the internal temperature of the refrigerator is

within the satisfactory region.

[00244] In addition, when the internal temperature of the

refrigerator is in the upper limit region C, it is considered

that food having a high temperature is put into the

refrigerator, or the door of the storage compartment is

opened to rapidly increase in load within the refrigerator.

Thus, a special operation algorithm including a load

correspondence operation is performed.

[00245] (a) of Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a reference

temperature line for controlling the refrigerator according

to a change in temperature of the refrigerating compartment.

[00246] A notch temperature Ni of the refrigerating

compartment is set to a temperature above zero. In order to

allow the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to be

maintained to the notch temperature Ni, when the temperature

of the refrigerating compartment rises to a first

94138302.2 satisfactory critical temperature N11 higher than the notch temperature N1 by a first temperature difference dl, the compressor is controlled to be driven, and after the compressor is driven, the compressor is controlled to be stopped when the temperature is lowered to a second satisfactory critical temperature N12 lower than the notch temperature Ni by the first temperature difference dl.

[00247] The first temperature difference dl is a temperature

value that increases or decreases from the notch temperature

Ni of the refrigerating compartment, and the temperature of

the refrigerating compartment may be defined as a control

differential or a control differential temperature, which

defines a temperature section in which the temperature of the

refrigerating compartment is considered as being maintained

to the notch temperature Ni, i.e., approximately 1.5°C.

[00248] In addition, when it is determined that the

refrigerating compartment temperature rises from the notch

temperature Ni to a first unsatisfactory critical temperature

N13 which is higher by the second temperature difference d2,

the special operation algorithm is controlled to be executed.

The second temperature difference d2 may be 4.5°C. The first

unsatisfactory critical temperature may be defined as an

upper limit input temperature.

[00249] After the special driving algorithm is executed, if

the internal temperature of the refrigerator is lowered to a

second unsatisfactory temperature N14 lower than the first

unsatisfactory critical temperature by a third temperature

difference d3, the operation of the special driving algorithm

is ended. The second unsatisfactory temperature N14 may be

lower than the first unsatisfactory temperature N13, and the

94138302.2 third temperature difference d3 may be 3.00C. The second unsatisfactory critical temperature N14 may be defined as an upper limit release temperature.

[00250] After the special operation algorithm is completed,

the cooling capacity of the compressor is adjusted so that

the internal temperature of the refrigerator reaches the

second satisfactory critical temperature N12, and then the

operation of the compressor is stopped.

[00251] (b) of Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a reference

temperature line for controlling the refrigerator according

to a change in temperature of the freezing compartment.

[00252] A reference temperature line for controlling the

temperature of the freezing compartment have the same

temperature as the reference temperature line for controlling

the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, but the

notch temperature N2 and temperature variations kl, k2, and

k3 increasing or decreasing from the notch temperature N2 are

only different from the notch temperature N1 and temperature

variations dl, d2, and d3.

[00253] The freezing compartment notch temperature N2 may be

-18°C as described above, but is not limited thereto. The

control differential temperature k1 defining a temperature

section in which the freezing compartment temperature is

considered to be maintained to the notch temperature N2 that

is the set temperature may be 2°C.

[00254] Thus, when the freezing compartment temperature

increases to the first satisfactory critical temperature N21,

which increases by the first temperature difference k1 from

the notch temperature N2, the compressor is driven, and when

the freezing compartment temperature is the unsatisfactory

94138302.2 critical temperature (upper limit input temperature) N23, which increases by the second temperature difference k2 than the notch temperature N2, the special operation algorithm is performed.

[00255] In addition, when the freezing compartment

temperature is lowered to the second satisfactory critical

temperature N22 lower than the notch temperature N2 by the

first temperature difference kl after the compressor is

driven, the driving of the compressor is stopped.

[00256] After the special operation algorithm is performed,

if the freezing compartment temperature is lowered to the

second unsatisfactory critical temperature (upper limit

release temperature) N24 lower by the third temperature

difference k3 than the first unsatisfactory temperature N23,

the special operation algorithm is ended. The temperature of

the freezing compartment is lowered to the second

satisfactory critical temperature N22 through the control of

the compressor cooling capacity.

[00257] Even in the state that the deep freezing compartment

mode is turned off, it is necessary to intermittently control

the temperature of the deep freezing compartment with a

certain period to prevent the deep freezing compartment

temperature from excessively increasing. Thus, the

temperature control of the deep freezing compartment in a

state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is turned

off follows the temperature reference line for controlling

the temperature of the freezing compartment disclosed in (b)

Fig. 7.

[00258] As described above, the reason why the reference

temperature line for controlling the temperature of the

94138302.2 freezing compartment is applied in the state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is turned off is because the deep freezing compartment is disposed inside the freezing compartment.

[00259] That is, even when the deep freezing compartment mode

is turned off, and the deep freezing compartment is not used,

the internal temperature of the deep freezing compartment has

to be maintained at least at the same level as the freezing

compartment temperature to prevent the load of the freezing

compartment from increasing.

[00260] Therefore, in the state that the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned off, the deep freezing compartment

notch temperature is set equal to the freezing compartment

notch temperature N2, and thus the first and second

satisfactory critical temperatures and the first and second

unsatisfactory critical temperatures are also set equal to

the critical temperatures N21, N22, N23, and N24 for

controlling the freezing compartment temperature.

[00261] (c) of Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a reference

temperature line for controlling the refrigerator according

to a change in temperature of the deep freezing compartment

in a state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is

turned on.

[00262] In the state in which the deep freezing compartment

mode is turned on, that is, in the state in which the deep

freezing compartment is on, the deep freezing compartment

notch temperature N3 is set to a temperature significantly

lower than the freezing compartment notch temperature N2, 0 i.e., is in a range of about -45°C to about -55 C, preferably

-550C. In this case, it is said that the deep freezing

94138302.2 compartment notch temperature N3 corresponds to a heat absorption surface temperature of the thermoelectric module

21, and the freezing compartment notch temperature N2

corresponds to a heat generation surface temperature of the

thermoelectric module 21.

[00263] Since the refrigerant passing through the freezing

compartment expansion valve 15 passes through the heat sink

24, the temperature of the heat generation surface of the

thermoelectric module 21 that is in contact with the heat

sink 24 is maintained to a temperature corresponding to the

temperature of the refrigerant passing through at least the

freezing compartment expansion valve. Therefore, a

temperature difference between the heat absorption surface

and the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module,

that is, AT is 32°C.

[00264] The control differential temperature ml, that is, the

deep freezing compartment control differential temperature

that defines a temperature section considered to be

maintained to the notch temperature N3, which is the set

temperature, is set higher than the freezing compartment

control differential temperature kl, for example, 3°C.

[00265] Therefore, it is said that the set temperature

maintenance consideration section defined as a section

between the first satisfactory critical temperature N31 and

the second satisfactory critical temperature N32 of the deep

freezing compartment is wider than the set temperature

maintenance consideration section of the freezing compartment.

[00266] In addition, when the deep freezing compartment

temperature rises to the first unsatisfactory critical

temperature N33, which is higher than the notch temperature

94138302.2

N3 by the second temperature difference m2, the special

operation algorithm is performed, and after the special

operation algorithm is performed, when the deep freezing

compartment temperature is lowered to the second

unsatisfactory critical temperature N34 lower than the first

unsatisfactory critical temperature N33 by the third

temperature difference m3, the special operation algorithm is

ended. The second temperature difference m2 may be 5°C.

[00267] Here, the second temperature difference m2 of the

deep freezing compartment is set higher than the second

temperature difference k2 of the freezing compartment. In

other words, an interval between the first unsatisfactory

critical temperature N33 and the deep freezing compartment

notch temperature N3 for controlling the deep freezing

compartment temperature is set larger than that between the

first unsatisfactory critical temperature N23 and the

freezing compartment notch temperature N2 for controlling the

freezing compartment temperature.

[00268] This is because the internal space of the deep

freezing compartment is narrower than that of the freezing

compartment, and the thermal insulation performance of the

deep freezing case 201 is excellent, and thus, a small amount

of the load input into the deep freezing compartment is

discharged to the outside. In addition, since the

temperature of the deep freezing compartment is significantly

lower than the temperature of the freezing compartment, when

a heat load such as food is penetrated into the inside of the

deep freezing compartment, reaction sensitivity to the heat

load is very high.

[00269] For this reason, when the second temperature

94138302.2 difference m2 of the deep freezing compartment is set to be the same as the second temperature difference k2 of the freezing compartment, frequency of performance of the special operation algorithm such as a load correspondence operation may be excessively high. Therefore, in order to reduce power consumption by lowering the frequency of performance of the special operation algorithm, it is preferable to set the second temperature difference m2 of the deep freezing compartment to be larger than the second temperature difference k2 of the freezing compartment.

[00270] A method for controlling the refrigerator according

to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described

below.

[00271] Hereinafter, the content that a specific process is

performed when at least one of a plurality of conditions is

satisfied should be construed to include the meaning that any

one, some, or all of a plurality of conditions have to be

satisfied to perform a particular process in addition to the

meaning of performing the specific process if any one of the

plurality of conditions is satisfied at a time point of

determination by the controller.

[00272] Figs. 8 and 9 are flowcharts illustrating a method

for controlling the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation according to an embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[00273] In detail, the flowchart disclosed in Fig. 8

illustrates a method for controlling the freezing compartment

load correspondence operation when the deep freezing

compartment mode is in on state, and the flowchart disclosed

in Fig. 9 illustrates a method for controlling the freezing

94138302.2 compartment load correspondence operation when the deep freezing compartment mode is in an off state.

[00274] When the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on,

a user presses a deep freezing compartment mode execution

button to indicate that the deep freezing compartment mode is

in a state capable of being performed. Thus, in the state in

which the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on, power

may be immediately applied to the thermoelectric module when

the specific condition is satisfied.

[00275] Conversely, a state in which the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned off means a state in which power

supply to the thermoelectric module is cut off. Thus, power

is not supplied to the thermoelectric module and the deep

freezing compartment fan except for exceptional cases.

[00276] First, referring to Fig. 8, the controller determines

whether the current state is the deep freezing compartment

mode on state (S110). If it is determined that the current

deep freezing compartment mode is in the off state, the

process proceeds to a process D, which will be described in

detail with reference to Fig. 9.

[00277] In detail, when it is determined that the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the on state at present, the

controller determines whether the current state is in a state

that satisfies an "input condition for a first freezing

compartment load correspondence operation" (S210).

[00278] The "input condition for the first freezing

compartment load correspondence operation" refers to a load

correspondence operation condition for rapidly removing a

load of the freezing compartment by inputting a load into the

freezing compartment in a state in which the deep freezing

94138302.2 compartment mode is the on state.

[00279] For example, the "input condition for the first

freezing compartment load correspondence operation may

include a case in which the freezing compartment temperature

rises by a set temperature Ta within a set time ta from a

time point at which the freezing compartment door is closed.

The set time ta may be 210 seconds, but is not limited

thereto, and the set temperature Ta may be 20C, but is not

limited thereto.

[00280] When the "input condition for the first freezing

compartment load-correspondence operation" is satisfied, it

is determined whether a room temperature zone (RT zone) to

which the current room temperature belongs corresponds to a

region other than a high temperature region (S220). That is,

it is determined whether the room temperature zone (RT zone)

to which the current room temperature belongs to a medium

temperature region or a low temperature region.

[00281] In detail, the controller may store a lookup table

divided into a plurality of room temperature zones (RT zones)

according to a range of the room temperature. As an example,

as shown in Table 1 below, it may be subdivided into eight

room temperature zones (RT zones) according to the range of

the room temperature. However, the present disclosure is not

limited thereto.

[00282] [Table 1] High temperature Medium temperature region Low temperature region region

RT Zone 1 RT Zone 2 RT Zone 3 RT Zone 4 RT Zone 5 RT Zone 6 RT Zone 7 RT Zone 8

34C<T<3 27C<T<3 22°C <T< 18°C <T<2 12°C <T<1 8°C <T<12 T 38°C T <8°C 8°C 4C 27°C 2°C 8°C °C

94138302.2

[00283] In more detail, a zone of the temperature range with

the highest room temperature may be defined as an RT zone 1

(or Z1), and a zone of the temperature range with the lowest

room temperature may be defined as an RT zone 8 (or Z8)

. Here, Zi may be mainly seen as the indoor state in midsummer,

and Z8 may be seen as an indoor state in the middle of winter.

[00284] Furthermore, the room temperature zones may be

grouped into a large category, a medium category, and a small

category. For example, as shown in Table 1, the room

temperature zone may be defined as a low temperature zone, a

medium temperature zone (or a comfortable zone), and a high

temperature zone according to the temperature range.

[00285] If it is determined that the zone (RT zone) to which

the current room temperature belongs does not correspond to

the low temperature region and the medium temperature region,

but correspond to the high temperature region, the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation may not be

performed, and the operation may return to an initial

operation S110.

[00286] The reason for excluding the case in which the

current room temperature is in the high temperature region is

that an operating rate of the freezing compartment fan is

relatively high, and thus, possibility of generation of frost

on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment is low.

However, the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation according to the present disclosure may not be

limited in room temperature. That is, omission of operation

S220 is not excluded.

[00287] On the other hand, if it is determined that the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the on state at present, but

94138302.2 the current state does not satisfy the "input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation", the process proceeds to a process E to perform "a control of an output of the freezing compartment fan in the state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on", and this will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 10.

[00288] When it is determined that the "the input condition

for the first freezing compartment load correspondence

operation" is satisfied, and the room temperature is also a

temperature in the medium temperature region or the low

temperature region, the controller determines whether the

"input condition for the refrigerating compartment load

correspondence operation" is satisfied (S230).

[00289] The "the input condition for the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation" may be

appropriately set in consideration of various conditions

including an operation condition and an installation space

condition in the refrigerating compartment, similarly to the

"condition for the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation".

[00290] As an example, the "input condition for the

refrigeration compartment load correspondence operation" may

include a case in which the refrigerating compartment

temperature rises by more than a set temperature Tb from the

refrigerating compartment temperature immediately before

opening the refrigerator door within a set time tb after

closing the refrigerating compartment door. Here, the set

time tb may be 5 minutes, but is not limited thereto, and the

set temperature Tb may be 20C, but is not limited thereto.

[00291] When the "input condition for the refrigeration

94138302.2 compartment load correspondence operation" is satisfied, conflict between the load correspondence operations occurs as a situation in which a situation for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation and a situation for the freezing compartment load correspondence operation occur at the same time.

[00292] When the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation and the freezing compartment load correspondence operation conflict with each other, the

controller prioritizes the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation. This is based on a method for controlling a load refrigerator in which a storage compartment having a high satisfactory temperature in the

refrigerator is first cooled, and then a storage compartment having a low satisfactory temperature in the refrigerator is cooled. If the storage compartment having the lower satisfactory temperature is first cooled, the temperature of

the storage compartment having the high satisfactory temperature rapidly increases to increase in possibility of spoilage of the stored food.

[00293] Based on this reason, when the freezing compartment

load correspondence operation and the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation conflict with each other at the same time or with a time difference, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

controlled to be paused (S240). The pausing of the freezing compartment load correspondence operation means that the freezing compartment valve is closed to prevent the refrigerant from flowing to the freezing compartment

evaporator. Here, the pausing of the freezing compartment

94138302.2 load correspondence operation includes maintenance of the paused state.

[00294] In other words, in the refrigerant circulation system illustrated in Fig. 1, a degree of opening of the switching valve 13 is adjusted so that the refrigerant flows only to

the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 14. Here, an operation in which the opening degree of the switching valve 13 is adjusted to prevent the refrigerant from flowing to the freezing compartment expansion valve 15 may be defined as "closing of the freezing compartment valve". Conversely, an operation in which the opening degree of the switching valve 13 is adjusted to prevent the refrigerant from flowing to the refrigerating compartment expansion valve 15 may be defined

as "closing of the refrigerator compartment valve".

[00295] In a state in which the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is paused, the refrigerator compartment load correspondence operation is input, and the

freezing compartment fan is controlled to be driven at a second speed (S250).

[00296] When the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation starts, the refrigerating

compartment valve is opened, and the refrigerating compartment fan is controlled to rotate at a high speed. When the refrigerating compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature range illustrated in (a) of Fig. 7,

or a maximum operation time elapses, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation may be controlled to be ended. The maximum operation time may be one hour, but is not limited thereto.

[00297] In detail, when the freezing compartment load

94138302.2 correspondence operation is paused, conventionally, the freezing compartment valve is closed, and the operation of the freezing compartment fan is controlled to be also paused.

However, according to the present disclosure, the

refrigerator compartment load correspondence operation is

performed, and the freezing compartment fan rotates at a

second speed even when the freezing compartment valve is

closed.

[00298] Then, moisture generated in the freezing compartment

by the load input into the freezing compartment while the

cold air in the freezing compartment circulates may be

discharged into the freezing evaporation compartment. Since

the cold air in the freezing compartment circulates, it also

has the effect of reducing the possibility of the moisture

attached to the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment.

[00299] The second speed may be a low speed, but is not

limited thereto.

[00300] While the refrigerating compartment load

correspondence operation is performed, the controller

continuously determines whether the refrigerating compartment

temperature enters the satisfactory temperature region A

illustrated in (a) of Fig. 7 (S260).

[00301] When it is determined that the refrigerator

compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature

region A, any one of the following three control methods is

performed.

[00302] As the first method (i), when the refrigerating

compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature

region (A), the refrigerating compartment load correspondence

operation is ended, the refrigerating compartment valve is

94138302.2 closed, and the operation of the refrigerating compartment fan is paused, and also, the freezing compartment fan rotating at the second speed is paused.

[00303] In addition, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released (S270), an algorithm for

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation according to the present embodiment is ended. Then, the paused or suspended freezing compartment load correspondence operation is no longer performed and then return to a normal

operation state before the load correspondence operation.

[00304] As the second method ((2)), when the refrigerating compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature region (A), the refrigerating compartment load correspondence

operation is ended, and an algorithm according to this embodiment returns to the initial process to redetermine whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied. In

this case, even when the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is ended, it is redetermined whether the "input condition for the first freezing compartment load responding operation" is satisfied while the freezing

compartment fan is maintained at the second speed. That is, after the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is end, the control may be controlled to return to any one of operations S110 and S210.

[00305] As the third method (3), when the refrigerating compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature range, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is ended. Without the redetermination process

performed in the first method and the second method, the

94138302.2 freezing compartment load correspondence operation temporarily paused in operation S240 may be immediately continued. That is, the speed of the freezing compartment fan may vary from the low speed to the medium speed.

[00306] On the other hand, when the "input condition for the

refrigeration chamber load correspondence operation" is not

satisfied (S230), only the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is input exclusively (S280).

[00307] In detail, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may be defined as an operation in

which the freezing compartment valve is opened, the

refrigerant flows to the freezing compartment evaporator 15,

and the freezing compartment fan 171 rotates at the first

speed. The first speed may be a medium speed, but is not

limited thereto.

[00308] For reference, it is preferable that a minimum

voltage be supplied to the thermoelectric element during the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation. Then,

the refrigerant passing through the freezing compartment

expansion valve 14 is minimized in heat-exchange with the

heat generation surface of the thermoelectric element and

increases in heat-exchange with the cold air of the freezing

compartment, thereby minimizing a time required for cooling

the freezing compartment.

[00309] In addition, the thermoelectric element may be driven

to prevent a heat load of the freezing evaporation

compartment from being penetrated into the deep freezing

compartment using the thermoelectric module as a heat

transfer medium.

[00310] During the freezing compartment load correspondence

94138302.2 operation, the controller continuously determines whether the refrigerating compartment temperature rises to an upper limit temperature (S290). Here, when the refrigerating compartment temperature rises to the upper limit temperature, it does not mean that the refrigerating compartment door is opened, and the load penetration occurs, but a case that the internal temperature of the refrigerator naturally rises above the upper limit input temperature.

[00311] If it is determined that the refrigerating

compartment temperature enters the upper limit region C

illustrated in (b) of Fig. 7 during the freezing compartment

load correspondence operation (rising above the upper limit

input temperature), the operation is switched to a

simultaneous operation of cooling the refrigerating

compartment and the freezing compartment at the same time

(S300).

[00312] During simultaneous operation, both the refrigerator

compartment fan and the freezing compartment fan may be

controlled to rotate at a first speed, but are not limited

thereto. During simultaneous operation, it may be controlled

so that the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation is not performed even if the condition for the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied.

[00313] In addition, when the refrigerating compartment

temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region A

illustrated in (a) of Fig. 7 (S310), and when the freezing

compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature

region A illustrated in (b) of Fig. 7, if at least one

condition is satisfied, the freezing compartment load

94138302.2 correspondence operation may be released (S270). That is, even when the temperatures of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment simultaneously enter the satisfactory temperature range, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be controlled to be released.

[00314] Here, the release of the freezing compartment load correspondence operation may be interpreted as closing the freezing compartment valve and stopping the freezing compartment fan, which means that a simultaneous operation

mode is ended.

[00315] In addition, even if only the refrigerating compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature range, there may be no problem even if the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is released for the following reasons. In detail, when the freezing compartment temperature load correspondence operation is released to return to the first process, a determination process (S210)

of whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied will be performed. Here, if the condition for the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is not satisfied,

the process proceeds to process E, and a process of controlling an output a normal freezing compartment fan is performed. Therefore, even when only the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is satisfied, the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation may be released.

[00316] In operation S290, if the refrigerating compartment temperature is within the satisfactory temperature range or the unsatisfactory temperature range, a process of

determining whether an inner freezing temperature enters the

94138302.2 satisfactory temperature range is performed while the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is continued (S291).

[00317] In detail, if it is determined that the freezing

compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature

range illustrated in (b) of Fig 7, naturally, the process

proceeds to operation S270 of releasing the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation.

[00318] However, when the freezing compartment temperature

does not reach the satisfactory temperature range, it is

determined whether the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation elapses a set time t4 (S292). If it

is determined that the set time t4 elapses, the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is released even if

the freezing compartment temperature does not enter the

satisfactory temperature region A (S270).

[00319] If the set time t4 does not elapse after the start of

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation, the

controller determines whether the input condition for the

refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied even while the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is performed (S230). That is, it is

determined whether a situation in which the load input

operations conflicts with a time difference occurs, rather

than a situation in which the load input operation conflicts

at the same time.

[00320] Here, it is not assumed that the freezing compartment

load correspondence operation occurs while the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation is first performed,

because the situation for the refrigerator operation is not

94138302.2 changed even when the situation for the freezing compartment load correspondence operation occurs. That is, when the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation starts first, the previous operation state is continuously maintained even when the situation for the freezing compartment load correspondence operation occurs.

[00321] As described above, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, since the deep freezing compartment temperature is significantly lower than the

freezing compartment temperature, even when the zone (RT zone) to which the room temperature belongs is in the low temperature region, there is high probability that frost is generated on the outer wall of the deep freezing compartment.

Thus, the control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that an input range of the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is extended to the room temperature zone (RT Zone) having the

low temperature region when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on.

[00322] On the other hand, if it is determined in operation S110 of Fig. 8 that the deep freezing compartment mode is in

the off state, the control process of Fig. 9 is performed.

[00323] Referring to Fig. 9, when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned off, the controller determines whether the "input condition for the second freezing

compartment load correspondence operation" is satisfied (S410). In detail, the "input condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation" may be set differently from the "input condition for the first

freezing compartment load correspondence operation".

94138302.2

[00324] For example, if it is determined that the freezing

compartment temperature exceeds a freezing compartment notch

temperature N2 or rises to an unsatisfactory temperature range within a set time to after closing the freezing compartment door, the input condition for the second freezing

compartment load correspondence operation may be defined as being satisfied. The set time to may be 3 minutes, but is not limited thereto.

[00325] Here, a minimum value of a heat load that satisfies

the "the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation" may be set to be less than a minimum value of a heat load that satisfies the "the input condition for the second freezing compartment load

correspondence operation". In other words, the heat load that satisfies the input condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation may satisfy the input condition for the first freezing compartment load

correspondence operation, but the heat load may not satisfy the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence satisfies the input condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence.

[00326] The reason is that, in the state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, the deep freezing compartment temperature is in an extremely low temperature state, and in the state in which the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the off state, the deep freezing compartment temperature is the freezing compartment temperature. That is, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, even if the heat load input into the

freezing compartment is relatively small, possibility in

94138302.2 which frost occurs on an outer wall of the deep freezing compartment is higher than when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the off state.

[00327] Accordingly, under a condition in which an amount of

heat load penetrated into the freezing compartment is the

same, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on

state, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation

is performed, but when the deep freezing compartment mode is

in the off state, the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation may not be performed.

[00328] In addition, when the input condition for the second

freezing compartment load correspondence operation is not

satisfied, the process proceeds to a process F so that the

control method illustrated in Fig. 11 is performed, which

will be described later. The control method disclosed in Fig.

11 relates to a control of an output of the freezer

compartment fan in a state in which the deep freezing

compartment is in the off state.

[00329] When it is determined that the input condition for

the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation

is satisfied, a process (S220) of determining whether the

current room temperature belongs to the medium temperature

region is performed. Here, the fact that the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is performed only

when the room temperature belongs to the medium temperature

region in a state in which the deep freezing compartment is

in the off state is different from the input condition for

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation in a

state in which the deep freezing compartment mode is in the

on state.

94138302.2

[00330] If the room temperature does not belong to the medium

temperature region, the operation returns to the initial

determination process (S110) without executing the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation even if the input

condition for the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation is satisfied. That is, it is controlled so that

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

input only when the room temperature belongs to the medium

temperature region.

[00331] The reason is that, in the state in which the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the off state, the deep

freezing compartment temperature and the freezing compartment

temperature are controlled to be substantially the same.

Thus, in the low temperature region, a normal operation of

the freezing compartment may be performed without having to

input the freezing compartment load correspondence operation.

[00332] On the other hand, if it is determined that the room

temperature belongs to the medium temperature region in the

state in which the input condition for the second freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied (S410),

the controller determines whether the input condition for the

refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is

satisfied (S430), when if it is determined that the input

condition for the refrigerating compartment load

correspondence operation is satisfied, operations S440 to

S470 are performed.

[00333] Since the contents of operations S440 to S470 are the

same as the contents of operations S240 to S270 of Fig. 8, a

duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

[00334] However, in the case in which the refrigerating

94138302.2 compartment load correspondence operation conflicts with the refrigerator compartment load correspondence operation in the state in which the deep freezing compartment is in the off state, and the refrigerator compartment load correspondence operation is performed first, when the refrigerator compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature range, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is controlled to be unconditionally released (S520). However, it should be noted that the second method (performing the determination process) and the third method (continuing the freezing compartment load correspondence operation) described in Fig. 8 are not excluded.

[00335] In addition, if it is determined in operation S430

that the conflict of the load correspondence operation does

not occur because the input condition for the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation is not satisfied,

the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is

performed (S480) The process after the input of the freezing

compartment load correspondence operation, that is, the

operations S490, S491, S492, S500, S510, S511, and S520 are

the same as the contents of operations S290, S291, S292, S300,

S310, S311, and S270 described in Fig. 8, and thus, a

duplication description thereof will be omitted.

[00336] However, after the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is released (S520), the process is

controlled to return to the process (S410) of determining

whether the input condition for the second freezing

compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied, but

the process may also be controlled to return to the process

of determining whether the deep freezing compartment mode is

94138302.2 in the on state (S110). This is because, in the off state of the deep freezing compartment mode, a situation in which the deep freezing compartment mode is selected while the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is performed may occur.

[00337] Hereinafter, a method for controlling an output of

the freezing compartment fan, which is executed when the

situation for the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation does not occur in the state in which the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the on state will be

described.

[00338] Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for

controlling the output of the freezing compartment fan when

the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state

according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00339] In detail, in the state in which the deep freezing

compartment mode is in the on state, the refrigerant flows to

the freezing compartment evaporator for cooling the deep

freezing compartment even though the freezing compartment is

in a satisfactory temperature range, and as a result, the

cold air in the freezing evaporation compartment is

penetrated into the freezing compartment to lead to sagging

of the cold air in the freezing compartment. When the

sagging of the cold air occurs, temperature non-uniformity

between an upper space and a lower space inside the freezing

compartment may occur.

[00340] The control method presented in Fig. 10 may be

summarized as a control method for preventing such a

phenomenon in which the cold air in the freezing compartment

is sagged.

94138302.2

[00341] Referring to Fig. 10, if it is determined that the

current deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state,

the controller determines whether the current freezing

compartment is in a non-operational state (S120).

[00342] The operation of the freezing compartment may not be

performed because the freezing compartment is in a

satisfactory temperature region A illustrated in (b) of Fig.

7, and even if it is not in the satisfactory temperature

region A, the operation of the freezing compartment may not

be performed due to other reasons including a refrigerating

compartment exclusive operation mode.

[00343] Thus, the process (S120) means that it is determined

whether the current freezing compartment is in the non

operational state regardless of whether the freezing

compartment is in the satisfactory temperature region A.

[00344] If the freezing compartment is in the non-operational

state, the freezing compartment fan 171 is stopped (S130).

Here, the stopping of the freezing compartment fan 171

includes not only stopping of the freezing compartment fan

171 while driving, but also maintaining of the freezing

compartment fan 171 that is in the stopped state.

[00345] Sequentially, the controller detects the internal

temperature of the freezing compartment to determine whether

an operation for preventing sagging of cold air in the

freezing compartment is performed. That is, the controller

determines whether the freezing compartment temperature is in

the satisfactory temperature region (S140), and determines

whether the cold air sagging prevention operation is

performed.

[00346] On the other hand, if it is determined that the

94138302.2 freezing compartment is currently operating, at least one or more of a process of determining whether the freezing compartment door is opened (S121), a process of determining whether an elapsing time after the freezing compartment process starts is within an actual time ti (S122), and a process of determining whether an elapsing time after the freezing compartment door is closed is within a set time t2 are performed.

[00347] The set time ti may be 90 seconds, but is not limited

thereto, and the set time t2 may be 20 seconds, but is not

limited thereto.

[00348] Here, when it is determined that the current deep

freezing compartment mode is turned on, it is summarized as

controlling the refrigerator through the controller to

proceed to the state in which the freezing compartment fan is

stopped, or the stopping of the freezing compartment fan is

maintained when at least one of the determination processes

of the processes (S120, S121, S122, and S123) is satisfied

(S130). It is natural that it should be interpreted as

including a case in which all of the conditions of the

processes (S120, S121, S122, and S123) are satisfied.

[00349] In the case of performing a plurality of processes

among the processes (S121 to S123), the plurality of

processes are sequentially performed, but there is no

limitation in the order of the execution.

[00350] When the conditions determined in the processes (S120,

S121, S122, and S123) are not all satisfied, the process

proceeds to the process (S124) of determining the room

temperature.

[00351] In operation S124, the controller determines that the

94138302.2 current state is in any zone based on the room temperature at which the refrigerator is installed. For example, it may be determined whether the zone (RT zone) in which the current room temperature belongs is in a high temperature zone. If it is determined that the temperature zone (RT zone) in which the current room temperature belongs is in the high temperature zone, the freezing compartment fan may be driven at a first speed (S125).

[00352] If it is determined that the current room temperature

zone does not belong to the high temperature zone, the

freezing compartment fan may be driven at a second speed

(S126). The second speed may be slower than the first speed.

[00353] While the freezing compartment fan is driven at the

first or second speed, the controller determines whether the

freezing compartment temperature enters the satisfactory

temperature region A illustrated in (b) of Fig. 7B (S127).

[00354] If it is determined that the freezing compartment

temperature does not enter the satisfactory temperature

region A, the process returns to the process (S110) of

determining whether the deep freezing compartment mode is

turned on.

[00355] On the other hand, if it is determined that the

freezing compartment temperature enters the satisfactory

temperature region A, the freezing compartment fan is driven

at a third speed for a set time t3 (S128 and S129). The

third speed may be slower than the second speed. In detail,

the first speed may be set to a high speed, the second speed

may be set to a medium speed, and the third speed may be set

to a low speed.

[00356] When the set time t3 elapses, the freezing

94138302.2 compartment fan is stopped (S130), and the process proceeds to a process of determining whether to perform the cold air sagging prevention operation (S140 or below). The process

(S140) may be a freezing compartment temperature

determination process for determining whether the cold air

sagging prevention operation is performed in the temperature

range in which the freezing compartment temperature is

satisfied.

[00357] That is, since the freezing compartment temperature

is in an unsatisfactory state even when the freezing

compartment is not in operation, it is necessary to determine

whether the freezing compartment temperature is within the

satisfactory temperature range. For example, when it

conflicts with another type of operation mode such as an

exclusive operation of the refrigerating compartment, the

priority of mode execution drops, and thus the operation

during the freezing is not performed even though the

temperature of the freezing compartment is not in the

satisfactory temperature range may not be performed.

[00358] On the other hand, if it is determined that the

freezing compartment temperature is not within the

satisfactory temperature range, the process returns to the

process (S110) of determining whether the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned on. For example, if it is

determined that the freezing compartment temperature does not

enter the satisfactory temperature range while the freezing

compartment fan rotates at any one speed of the high speed,

the medium speed, and the low speed, the process returns to

the process (S110) of determining whether the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned on to repeatedly determine whether

94138302.2 the freezing compartment fan is stopped or continuously rotates.

[00359] Here, when it is determined that the freezing

compartment temperature does not enter the satisfactory

temperature range, it is also possible to control to return

to any one of the processes (S120, S121, S122, S123, and

S124) in addition to the method of returning to the process

(Silo).

[00360] On the other hand, if it is determined that the

current freezing compartment temperature is within the

satisfactory temperature range, the first condition for

performing the cold air sagging prevention operation may be

referred to as a satisfactory state.

[00361] If it is determined that the current freezing

compartment temperature is within the satisfactory

temperature range, a process of determining whether the deep

freezing compartment temperature, which corresponds to the

second condition, is equal to or greater than the

unsatisfactory temperature is performed (S150).

[00362] That is, the process of determining whether the deep

freezing compartment temperature is above the unsatisfactory

temperature, that is, in the regions B and A illustrated in

(b) of FIG. 7 is performed. This is seen as a condition that

the controlling of the freezing compartment fan for

preventing the cold air sagging according to the present

disclosure is performed under the condition that the deep

freezing compartment cooling operation is being performed in

the unsatisfactory temperature region of the deep freezing

compartment.

[00363] When it is determined that the deep freezing

94138302.2 compartment temperature is above the unsatisfactory temperature, it is determined whether the current room temperature, which corresponds to the third condition, belongs to the low temperature region (S160).

[00364] In detail, in this process, it is determined whether

the current room temperature is equal to or less than the

upper limit temperature of the first low temperature region.

[00365] A case in which the current room temperature is lower

than the maximum temperature of the first low temperature

region, and thus, the room temperature zone (RT zone) to

which the current temperature belongs is Z7 or more means

that a temperature difference between a temperature within

the refrigerator and a temperature of the indoor space is

relatively low due to the very low room temperature, and thus,

a loss of cold air is not large. As a result, the period for

driving the freezing compartment fan is relatively long, and

a driving time is controlled to be short.

[00366] The long operation period of the freezing compartment

fan means that it takes a long time to restart the freezing

compartment fan after stopping the operation. Therefore,

since the compressor circulates the refrigerant by operating

at the maximum cooling capacity for cooling the deep freezing

compartment while the freezing compartment fan is stopped,

there is a high possibility that cold air inside the freezing

evaporation compartment in which the freezing compartment

evaporator is accommodated is introduced into the floor of

the freezing compartment.

[00367] In this situation, the freezing compartment fan is

controlled to operate under the first condition (S161).

[00368] On the other hand, when it is determined that the

94138302.2 room temperature zone (RT zone) to which the current room temperature belongs does not correspond to the first low temperature region, that is, whether the room temperature zone belongs to the second low temperature region higher than the temperature of the first low temperature region is determined.

[00369] In detail, when it is determined that the room temperature zone (RZ zone) to which the current room temperature belongs corresponds to the second low temperature

region, the freezing compartment fan is controlled to be driven under the second condition (S171).

[00370] Here, the second low temperature region may include, but is not limited to, the room temperature zone (RT zone) 6

in the table above and may also include the room temperature zone (RT zone) 5 corresponding to the medium temperature region.

[00371] The first condition and the second condition for

driving the freezing compartment fan are defined as a ratio of a driving time and a stopping time of the freezing compartment fan. The freezing compartment fan stopping time under the first condition may be set longer than the freezing

compartment fan stopping time under the second condition.

[00372] For example, in the first condition, a ratio of the stopping time (off time) of the freezing compartment fan to the driving time (on time) of the freezing compartment fan

may be 3 or more. More specifically, in the first condition, the freezing compartment fan may be controlled to repeatedly perform an operation of maintaining the stopped state for 225 seconds after being driven for 75 seconds. Here, it should

be noted that the ratio of the stopping time to the driving

94138302.2 time of the freezing compartment fan is not limited to the conditions presented above.

[00373] In addition, in the second condition, a ratio of the freezing time of the freezing compartment fan to the driving time of the freezing compartment fan may be 5 or more. More

specifically, in the second condition, the freezing compartment fan may be controlled to repeatedly perform an operation of maintaining the stopped state for 375 seconds after being driven for 75 seconds.

[00374] Here, the reason of the design in which the lower the room temperature, the longer the off time of the freezing compartment fan is as follows.

[00375] In detail, the lower the room temperature, the more

severe the cold air sagging due to the cold air that is reversely penetrated from the freezing evaporation compartment to the freezing compartment. In order to address this problem, if the on/off ratio of the fan is taken short,

it may cause supercooling of the freezing compartment.

[00376] In other words, if the off time of the freezing compartment fan is shortened because the cold air sagging phenomenon becomes severe, the freezing compartment

supercooling phenomenon may be caused by relatively frequent cold air circulation in the freezing compartment.

[00377] Therefore, in order to address the problem of the sagging of the cold air and simultaneously prevent the

supercooling of the freezing compartment, it is better to set the off time of the freezing compartment fan to be longer as the room temperature is lower.

[00378] Under the first and second conditions, the freezing

compartment fan may be controlled to be constantly maintained

94138302.2 at a specific speed, for example, may be controlled to be driven at a low speed, but is not limited thereto.

[00379] Under the first and second conditions, the freezing

compartment fan may periodically rotate at a low speed (or at

another speed) to minimize the phenomenon that cold air in

the freezing compartment sags to the bottom of the freezing

compartment to causes temperature non-uniformity in the

freezing compartment.

[00380] In addition, while the freezing compartment fan is

repeatedly driven and stopped under any one of the first and

second conditions at the set speed, the controller determines

whether the refrigerator is powered off (S180), and when the

state in which the power is turned on is maintained, the

process returns to the process (S110) of determining whether

the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on.

[00381] Hereinafter, a method for controlling an output of

the freezing compartment fan, which is executed when the

situation for the freezing compartment load correspondence

operation does not occur in the state in which the deep

freezing compartment mode is in the off state will be

described.

[00382] Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for

controlling the output of the freezing compartment fan when

the deep freezing compartment mode is in the off state

according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00383] In detail, when the deep freezing compartment mode is

turned off, and it is determined that an input condition for

a second freezing compartment load correspondence operation

is not satisfied, at least one or more processes of a process

(S190) of determining whether the freezing compartment is in

94138302.2 a non-operational state, a process (S191) of determining whether the freezing compartment door is opened, and a process (S192) of determining whether the elapsing time elapses above the set time ti after the freezing compartment starts, and a process (S192) of determining whether the elapsing time elapses above the set time t2 after the freezing compartment door is closed will be performed.

[00384] If at least one or all of the case in which the freezing compartment is not in operation, the case in which

the door of the freezing compartment is opened, and the case in which the elapsing time does not reach the set time ti after the freezing compartment operation starts, or the case the elapsing time does not reach the set time t2 after the

door of the freezing compartment is closed is/are satisfied, the freezing compartment fan is controlled to be stopped (S200). This may be said to be substantially the same as the process of performing the processes (S120 to S123) of Fig. 10.

[00385] As described in Fig. 10, the execution order of the processes (S190 to S193) is not limited to the order presented in the flowchart.

[00386] On the other hand, if all of the conditions of the

processes (S190 to S193) are not satisfied, the process (S194) of detecting the room temperature and determining a zone on which the detected room temperature exists is performed. Here, it is not excluded that all of the

processes (S190 to S194) are omitted, and the process proceeds to the process (S194) of directly detecting the room temperature.

[00387] When it is determined that the detected room

temperature belongs to the high temperature region, the

94138302.2 freezing compartment fan may be controlled to be driven at a first speed. If it is determined that the detected room temperature does not belong to the high temperature region, the freezing compartment fan is controlled to drive at a second speed.

[00388] In addition, whether the freezing compartment

temperature enters the satisfactory temperature region A

illustrated in (b) of Fig. 7 is determined, and when it is

determined that the freezing compartment temperature does not

enter the satisfactory temperature range, the process returns

to the process (S190) of determining whether the freezing

compartment is not in operation.

[00389] Here, when it is determined that the freezing

compartment temperature does not enter the satisfactory

temperature region A, it is also possible to control to

return to any one of the processes (S191, S192, S193, and

S194). Alternatively, if the freezing compartment

temperature does not reach the satisfactory temperature

(S199), it is also possible to control to return to the

process (S110) of determining whether the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned on.

[00390] On the other hand, if it is determined that the

freezing compartment temperature enters the satisfactory

temperature range, the freezing compartment fan is controlled

to be driven at a third speed for a set time t3 (S198 and

S199). When the set time t3 elapses, the freezing

compartment fan is stopped (S200), and the process returns to

the process (S110) of determining whether the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned on.

[00391] The control method from operations S194 to S200 of

94138302.2

Fig. 11 is substantially the same as the control method from

operations S124 to S130 of Fig. 10. However, if the deep

freezing compartment mode is not turned on, it will be

different from the case in which the deep freezing

compartment mode is turned on to proceed to the process

(SilO) of determining whether the deep freezing compartment

mode is turned on after the freezing compartment fan is

stopped.

[00392] That is, when the deep freezing compartment mode is

in the on state, it is different from proceeding to the

process (S140 or below) of determining whether the cold air

sagging operation is performed.

[00393] The first to third speeds may be considered the same

as the first to third speeds described with reference to Fig.

10.

[00394] Although embodiments have been described with

reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it

will be understood by those skilled in the art that various

changes in form and details may be made therein without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as

defined by the appended claims.

[00395] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled

in the art without departing from the scope of the present

invention as herein described with reference to the

accompanying drawings.

94138302.2

Claims

1. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment;

a freezing compartment that is partitioned from the refrigerating compartment; a deep freezing compartment accommodated in the freezing compartment and partitioned from the freezing

compartment; a thermoelectric module configured to cool the deep freezing compartment to a temperature less than that of the freezing compartment;

a deep freezing compartment temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the deep freezing compartment; a freezing compartment temperature sensor configured to

detect a temperature within the freezing compartment;

a freezing compartment fan configured to forcibly circulate air within the freezing compartment; and a controller configured to control at least driving of

the freezing compartment fan,

the method comprising: performing a freezing compartment load correspondence

operation when a heat load is penetrated into the freezing compartment, varying an input condition for a freezing compartment load correspondence operation according to whether a deep

freezing compartment mode is in an on state,

94138302.2 wherein, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, an input condition for a first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is applied, when the deep freezing compartment mode is in an off state, an input condition for a second freezing compartment load correspondence operation is applied, and a minimum value of a heat load which satisfies the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is set to be less than a minimum value of a heat load which satisfies the input condition for the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the

input condition for the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is satisfied, determine whether a

room temperature condition is satisfied, and

the room temperature condition is varied according to

the on/off state of the deep freezing compartment mode.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2,

wherein when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned on,

a room temperature zone (RT zone) is defined as a first room

temperature region,

when the deep freezing compartment mode is turned off,

the room temperature zone (RT zone) is defined as a second

room temperature region,

the RT zone enabling the freezing compartment load

correspondence operation to be inputted,

the first room temperature region is set to be wider

than the second room temperature region, and

94138302.2 a minimum room temperature of the first room temperature region is set to be lower than a minimum room temperature belonging to the second room temperature region.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, when

only a first condition is satisfied, or both the first condition and a second condition are satisfied, the controller determines first whether the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is satisfied, wherein the first condition is the condition that allows the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be initiated,

wherein the second condition is that, when it is determined that the room temperature zone (RT zone), to which a current room temperature belongs, is the room temperature region in which the first freezing compartment load

correspondence operation to be inputted.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the input condition for the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is stopped, and performance of the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is prioritized.

6. The method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the freezing compartment fan is driven at a low speed together with the performance of the refrigerating

compartment load correspondence operation.

94138302.2

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein when the refrigerating compartment temperature enters

a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is ended, and the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released to stop the driving of the freezing compartment fan.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein when the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, the controller determines whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load

correspondence operation is satisfied.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, and the

refrigerating compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is ended, and while the low-speed driving of the freezing compartment

fan is maintained, the controller redetermines whether the input condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, and the refrigerating compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, the refrigerating compartment load

correspondence operation is ended, and the freezing

94138302.2 compartment load correspondence operation is performed.

11. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein when it is determined that the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation

is not satisfied, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is performed, and when a set time elapses after the freezing compartment temperature enters a satisfactory temperature region, or the

freezing compartment load correspondence operation starts, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the refrigerating compartment temperature enters an upper limit region while the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is performed, the mode is switched

to a simultaneous operation mode in which the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are cooled at the same time.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein when at least one of the refrigerating compartment temperature or the freezing compartment temperature enters the satisfactory temperature region while the simultaneous operation mode is

performed, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is released.

14. The method according to claim 3, wherein, when

only a third condition is satisfied, or both the third

94138302.2 condition and a forth condition are satisfied, the controller determines whether the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied, wherein the third condition is the condition that allows the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be initiated, wherein the forth condition is that, when it is determined that the room temperature zone (RT zone), to which a current room temperature belongs, is the room temperature region in which the second freezing compartment load correspondence operation to be inputted, wherein, when the input condition for the refrigerating compartment load correspondence operation is satisfied, the freezing compartment load correspondence operation is stopped, and the freezing compartment fan is driven at a low speed.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in a

state where the deep freezing compartment mode is in the on state, and the condition for the first freezing compartment load correspondence operation is not satisfied, if the freezing compartment temperature is within a satisfactory

temperature region, and the deep freezing compartment temperature is within an unsatisfactory temperature region, the freezing compartment fan is repeatedly driven and stopped with a predetermined period to reduce an increase in

temperature difference between an upper space and a lower space of the freezing compartment.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a

stopping time of the freezing compartment fan is set to be

94138302.2 longer than a driving time of the freezing compartment fan.

94138302.2